System and method for scheduling based on vehicle condition reported by vehicle

ABSTRACT

A method and system that can be used to generate or modify a schedule using data indicative of a vehicle condition reported by a vehicle is described. A server receives a first computer network transmission (CNT) comprising data indicative of the vehicle and the vehicle condition, parses the first CNT to obtain the data indicative of the vehicle and the data indicative of the vehicle condition; determines, based on the data indicative of the vehicle, a computer network address associated with a repair shop having a client disposed at the address to display content of a scheduler application, and transmits to the client disposed at the address, a second CNT comprising data to cause the client to display as part of the content of the scheduler application served by computing server an alert indicator and parsed data indicative of the vehicle and the parsed data indicative of the vehicle condition.

BACKGROUND

Most vehicles are serviced at least once during their useful life. Inmany instances, a vehicle is serviced at a repair shop by a professionalmechanic (e.g., a repair technician). The repair shop may be referred toby various names such as a service shop, a vehicle shop, or more simplya shop.

The technician at a repair shop may use any of a variety of hand toolsto service (e.g., repair) a mechanical component on a vehicle. Thetechnician may also use an electronic diagnostic device to service(e.g., diagnose) an electrical component on a vehicle. The technicianmay use another shop resource or equipment at the repair shop to servicea vehicle. In some instances, the technician demand for tools, equipmentor shop resources may be greater than the available supply of the tools,equipment or shop resources at the shop where the technicians needingthe tools, equipment or shop resources are located.

Typically, a vehicle owner or a vehicle user places a telephone call tomake a vehicle service appointment at a repair shop. In the past, aservice advisor or service manager would list a vehicle serviceappointment on a paper schedule located at the repair shop. Morerecently, the service advisor or service manager might add the vehicleservice appointment into a scheduler application operating on a localcomputing device based on information gathered from the telephone callwith the vehicle owner or vehicle user. Under these typicalcircumstances, the schedule application is not updated based on dataindicative of a vehicle condition of a vehicle reported by the vehicle.

OVERVIEW

Several example embodiments that relate to generating, modifying, and/orreconfiguring a vehicle shop schedule or an appointment within thevehicle shop schedule are described. A vehicle shop schedule cancomprise one or more appointments. A client computing device can outputa vehicle shop schedule for displaying in one or more different scheduleviews.

Viewed from one aspect, an example embodiment takes the form of a methodcomprising: (i) receiving, by a computing server, a first computernetwork transmission comprising data indicative of a vehicle and dataindicative of a vehicle condition of the vehicle reported by thevehicle, (ii) parsing, by the computing server, the first computernetwork transmission to obtain the data indicative of the vehicle andthe data indicative of the vehicle condition of the vehicle reported bythe vehicle, (iii) determining, by the computing server based on thedata indicative of the vehicle, a computer network address associatedwith a repair shop having a client computing device disposed at thecomputer network address to display content of a scheduler applicationserved by the computing server, and (iv) transmitting, by the computingserver to the client computing device disposed at the computer networkaddress associated with the repair shop, a second computer networktransmission comprising data to cause the client computing device todisplay as part of the content of the scheduler application served bycomputing server an alert indicator and parsed data indicative of thevehicle and the parsed data indicative of the vehicle condition of thevehicle reported by the vehicle.

Viewed from another aspect, an example embodiment takes the form of acomputing system comprising: a computer-readable memory, at least oneprocessor coupled to the computer-readable memory, and programinstructions stored on the computer-readable memory and executable bythe at least one processor to: (i) receive a first computer networktransmission comprising data indicative of a vehicle and data indicativeof a vehicle condition of the vehicle reported by the vehicle, (ii)parse the first computer network transmission to obtain the dataindicative of the vehicle and the data indicative of the vehiclecondition of the vehicle reported by the vehicle, (iii) determine, basedon the data indicative of the vehicle, a computer network addressassociated with a repair shop having a client computing device disposedat the computer network address to display content of a schedulerapplication served by the computing server, and (iv) transmit, to theclient computing device disposed at the computer network addressassociated with the repair shop, a second computer network transmissioncomprising data to cause the client computing device to display as partof the content of the scheduler application served by computing serveran alert indicator and parsed data indicative of the vehicle and theparsed data indicative of the vehicle condition of the vehicle reportedby the vehicle.

Viewed from yet another aspect, an example embodiment takes the form ofa computer readable medium configured to store at least executableinstructions, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by aprocessor of a computing device, cause the computing device to performfunctions comprising: (i) receiving a first computer networktransmission comprising data indicative of a vehicle and data indicativeof a vehicle condition of the vehicle reported by the vehicle, (ii)parsing the first computer network transmission to obtain the dataindicative of the vehicle and the data indicative of the vehiclecondition of the vehicle reported by the vehicle, (iii) determining,based on the data indicative of the vehicle, a computer network addressassociated with a repair shop having a client computing device disposedat the computer network address to display content of a schedulerapplication served by the computing server, and (iv) transmitting, tothe client computing device disposed at the computer network addressassociated with the repair shop, a second computer network transmissioncomprising data to cause the client computing device to display as partof the content of the scheduler application served by computing serveran alert indicator and parsed data indicative of the vehicle and theparsed data indicative of the vehicle condition of the vehicle reportedby the vehicle.

These as well as other aspects and advantages will become apparent tothose of ordinary skill in the art by reading the following detaileddescription, with reference where appropriate to the accompanyingdrawings. Further, it should be understood that the embodimentsdescribed in this overview and elsewhere are intended to be examplesonly and do not necessarily limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Example embodiments are described herein with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example operating environment in whichthe example embodiments can operate.

FIG. 2 shows simple block diagrams of vehicles in accordance with theexample embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a simple block diagram of a server in accordance with theexample embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a simple block diagram of another server in accordance withthe example embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a simple block diagram of a client computing device inaccordance with the example embodiments.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 depict a communication flow in accordance with theexample embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example computingdevice usable in a system that is arranged according to the exampleembodiments.

FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG. 11, FIG. 12, FIG. 13, FIG. 14, and FIG. 15 showdisplay outputs in accordance with the example embodiments.

FIG. 16 is a functional block diagram illustrating a computing systemthat is arranged in accordance with at least some example embodiments.

FIG. 17 is a schematic illustrating a conceptual partial view of acomputer program product for executing a computer process on a computingsystem, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 18 and FIG. 19 show display outputs in accordance with the exampleembodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION I. Introduction

This description describes example embodiments including exampleembodiments pertaining to a scheduler application. The schedulerapplication can be referred to as a “vehicle shop scheduler,” a “shopscheduler,” a “scheduler,” or by another term. The scheduler of theexample embodiments may enable a shop to improve its management ofworkflow within the shop including scheduling technician time, serviceappointments, and shop resources.

The scheduler application can be executed by a computing server. Thecomputing server can transmit network communications comprising data fora client computing device. The computing server can receive data formodifying a schedule from the client computing device. The computingserver can receive data reported by a vehicle for modifying a schedule,such as a schedule maintained for a repair shop where the clientcomputing device is located.

II. Example Systems

A. Operating Environment

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example operating environment 100 inwhich the example embodiments can operate. The operating environment 100comprises a computer network 110, a vehicle 115, a transmission server120, a computing server 125, a client computing device 130, and a repairshop 135.

The computer network 110 can comprise a network link component such as aswitch, a modem, a gateway, an antenna, a cable, a transmitter, areceiver, a router, an access point, a wiring hub, or an Ethernet switchto allow devices at various locations of the computer network 110 toconnect to one another. The computer network 110 can comprise a wirelesscommunication link, such as a Wi-Fi® communication link, or a wiredcommunication link, such as an Integrated Service Digital Network, aDigital Subscriber Link, a coaxial cable, or a fiber optic cable. Thecomputer network 110 can comprise a wide area network (WAN). The WAN cancarry data using one or both of a packet-switched technology and acircuit-switched technology. The WAN can comprise an air interface orwire to carry the data. The computer network 110 can comprise a localarea network (LAN) that is connected to other portions of the computernetwork 110 via the network link component. The computer network 110 cancomprise a metropolitan area network (MAN). The computer network 110carries communications. The computer network 110 can carrycommunications in accordance with a network protocol. As an example, thenetwork protocol can comprise a protocol such as an Internet Protocol(IP) or a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). The computer network 110can comprise a communication network commonly referred to as theInternet.

The repair shop 135 is a facility at which a vehicle can be repaired. Asan example, the repair shop 135 can comprise a vehicle transmissionrepair shop, a manufacturer's dealer repair shop, an independent repairshop, a vehicle oil change repair shop, or some other type of repairshop at which a vehicle may be taken for servicing. A typical repairshop comprises one or more shop tools, such as a vehicle lift, a brakelathe, a wheel alignment machine, a wheel balancer, or a diagnosticcomputing device for diagnosing a vehicle. The repair shop 135 cancomprise a

LAN and a network link component to connect that LAN to thecommunication network 110. The client computing device 130 can operateat, within, or remote from the repair shop 135.

B. Vehicle

Next, FIG. 2 shows example vehicle 215A and vehicle 215B. A vehicle,such as the vehicle 115, 215A, or 215B, is a mobile machine that can beused to transport a person, people, or cargo. A vehicle can be driven orotherwise guided along a path (e.g., a paved road or otherwise) on land,in water, or in the air or outer space. A vehicle can be wheeled,tracked, railed, or skied. A vehicle can be guided by a user within thevehicle or by a user outside of the vehicle by use of a remote control.A vehicle can be guide at least partially autonomously. In the case ofan autonomous vehicle, the vehicle can at least sometimes be guidedalong a path without any person or cargo inside or on the vehicle. Avehicle, such as a wheeled motor vehicle, can comprise an automobile, amotorcycle, an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) defined by ANSI/SVIA-1-2007, alight-duty truck, a medium-duty truck, a heavy-duty truck, asemi-tractor, a farm machine, a van (such as a dry or refrigerated van),a tank trailer, a platform trailer, or an automobile carrier. A vehiclecan comprise a snowmobile or a personal watercraft (e.g., a JET SKI®personal watercraft). A vehicle can comprise or use any appropriatevoltage or current source, such as a battery, an alternator, a fuelcell, and the like. A vehicle can comprise or use any desired drivesystem or engine. That drive system or engine can comprise items thatuse fossil fuels, such as gasoline, natural gas, propane, and the like,electricity, such as that generated by a battery, magneto, fuel cell,solar cell and the like, wind and hybrids or combinations thereof.

The vehicle 215A comprises an electronic control unit (ECU) 235, anetwork communication device 225, and a vehicle communication link (VCL)230. The network communication device 225 is configured to carry outcommunications over the computer network 110. The network communicationdevice 225 can be connected directly to the ECU 220 via the VCL 230. Thenetwork communication device 225 can comprise a network communicationdevice installed into the vehicle 215A by the vehicle manufacturer or anaftermarket source. The network communication device 225 can, forexample, connect to the computer network 110 using a cellular networkprotocol, such as a cellular wireless communication standard such as along term evolution (LTE) standard, a code division multiple access(CDMA) standard, an integrated digital enhanced network (IDEN) standard,a global system for mobile communications (GSM) standard, a generalpacket radio service (GPRS) standard, a UMTS standard, an enhanced datarates for GSM evolution (EDGE) standard, or a multichannel multipointdistribution service (MMDS) standard. Additionally or alternatively, thenetwork communication device 225 can connect to the computer network 110using a wireless communication standard or protocol other than acellular network standard or protocol, such as an Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard (e.g.,802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, or 802.11n).

The vehicle 215B comprises an ECU 235, an on-board diagnostic (OBD)connector 240, a vehicle communication link 245 that connects the ECU235 to the OBD connector 240, a vehicle interface device 250 removablyconnectable to the OBD connector 240, and a network communication device255.

An ECU, such as the ECU 220 or the ECU 235, can detect a malfunction ina vehicle and set a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) to an active status. Avehicle, such as the vehicle 115, 215A, or 215B, can be a “connectedvehicle” (e.g., a vehicle connected to the computer network).

A vehicle manufacturer can build various quantities of vehicles eachcalendar year (i.e., January 1^(st) to December 31^(st)). In someinstances, a vehicle manufacturer defines a model year for a particularvehicle model to be built. The model year can start on a date other thanJanuary 1^(st) or can end on a date other than December 31^(st). Themodel year can span portions of two calendar years. A vehiclemanufacturer can build one vehicle model or multiple different vehiclemodels.

Two or more different vehicle models built by a vehicle manufacturerduring a particular calendar year can have the same of different definedmodel years. The vehicle manufacturer can build vehicles of a vehiclemodel with different vehicle options. For example, the particularvehicle model can comprise vehicles with six-cylinder engines andvehicles with eight-cylinder engines. The vehicle manufacturer oranother entity can define vehicle identifying information for eachvehicle built by the vehicle manufacturer. Particular vehicleidentifying information identifies particular sets of vehicles (e.g.,all vehicles of a particular vehicle model for a particular vehiclemodel year or all vehicles of a particular vehicle model for aparticular vehicle model year with a particular set of one or morevehicle options).

As an example, the particular vehicle identifying information cancomprise indicators of characteristics of the vehicle such as when thevehicle was built (e.g., a vehicle model year), who built the vehicle(e.g., a vehicle make (i.e., vehicle manufacturer)), marketing namesassociated with vehicle (e.g., a vehicle model name, or more simply“model”), and features of the vehicle (e.g., an engine type). Inaccordance with that example, the particular vehicle identifyinginformation can be referred to by an abbreviation YMME or Y/M/M/E, whereeach letter in the order shown represents a model year identifier,vehicle make identifier, vehicle model name identifier, and engine typeidentifier, respectively, or an abbreviation YMM or Y/M/M, where eachletter in the order shown represents a model year identifier, vehiclemake identifier, and vehicle model name identifier, respectively. Anexample Y/M/M/E is 2004/Toyota/Camry/4Cyl, in which “2004” representsthe model year the vehicle was built, “Toyota” represents the name ofthe vehicle manufacturer Toyota Motor Corporation, Aichi Japan, “Camry”represents a vehicle model built by that manufacturer, and “4Cyl”represents a an engine type (i.e., a four cylinder internal combustionengine (ICE)) within the vehicle. A person skilled in the art willunderstand that other features in addition to or as an alternative to“engine type” can be used to identify a vehicle using particular vehicleidentifying information, and for some purposes, a vehicle could beidentified by its make and model M/M. These other features can beidentified in various manners, such as a regular production option (RPO)code, such as the RPO codes defined by the General Motors Company LLC,Detroit Mich. Furthermore, the vehicle identifying information can becombined and displayed as a vehicle identification number (VIN). The VINcan be displayed on a VIN label.

A vehicle communication link (VCL), such as the VCL 230 within thevehicle 215A or the VCL 245 within the vehicle 215B, can comprise one ormore conductors (e.g., copper wire conductors) or can be wireless. As anexample, a VCL can comprise one or more conductors for carrying vehicledata messages in accordance with a vehicle data message (VDM) protocol.A VDM protocol can comprise a Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)J1850 (PWM or VPW) VDM protocol, an International Organization ofStandardization (ISO) 15764-4 controller area network (CAN) VDMprotocol, an ISO 9141-2 K-Line VDM protocol, an ISO 14230-4 KWP2000K-Line VDM protocol, local interconnect network (LIN), or some other VDMprotocol defined for performing communications over a VCL with or withinthe vehicle 115, 215A or 215B. Each and every VDM discussed in thisdescription is arranged according to a VDM protocol.

An ECU, such as the ECU 220 or 235, can control various aspects ofvehicle operation or components within a vehicle. For example, the ECU220 or 235 can comprise a powertrain (PT) system ECU, an engine controlmodule (ECM) ECU, a powertrain control module (PCM) ECU, a supplementalinflatable restraint (SIR) system (i.e., an air bag system) ECU, anentertainment system ECU, or some other ECU. The ECU 220 or 235 canreceive inputs (e.g., a sensor input), control output devices (e.g., asolenoid), generate a vehicle data message (VDM) (such as a VDM based ona received input or a controlled output), and set a DTC as being activeor history for a detected fault or failure condition within a vehicle.The ECU 220 or 235 can perform a functional test can or a resetprocedure in response to receiving a VDM requesting performance of thefunctional test or the reset procedure. A VDM received by the ECU 220 or235 can comprise a parameter identifier (PID) to request a parameterdata value associated with the PID. A VDM transmitted by the ECU 220 or235 can comprise a response comprising the PID and the PID data valueassociated with the PID. The ECU 220 or 235 can be connected to avehicle component, such as a vehicle battery, a sensor, a vehiclechassis, a solenoid, a fuel injector, a fuel pump, or some other vehiclecomponent via a circuit, such as an electrical or optical circuit.

The OBD connector 240 can, for example, comprise an OBD I connector, anOBD II connector, an assembly line diagnostic link (ALDL) connector, ora data link connector (DLC). An OBD I connector can comprise slots forretaining up to twelve connector terminals. An OBD II connector cancomprise slots for retaining up to sixteen connector terminals. As anexample, the OBD II connector that meets the SAE J1962 specificationsuch as a connector 16M, part number 12110252, available from DelphiAutomotive LLP of Troy, Mich. The OBD connector 240 can compriseconductor terminals that connect to a conductor in the vehicle 115, 215Aor 215B. For instance, the OBD connector 240 can comprise connectorterminals that connect to conductors that respectively connect topositive and negative terminals of a vehicle battery. The OBD connector240 can comprise one or more conductor terminals that connect to aconductor of the VCL 245 such that the OBD connector 240 iscommunicatively connected to the ECU 235. The vehicle 215A can comprisean OBD connector, such an OBD connector in parallel with the ECU 220 orthe network communication device 225.

The vehicle interface device 250 can comprise a transceiver and aconnector that mates with the OBD connector 240. The vehicle interfacedevice 250 can be removably connectable to the OBD connector 240. As anexample, a vehicle owner or vehicle user can connect the vehicleinterface device 250 to the OBD connector 240 in response to the ECU 235detecting a vehicle malfunction and causing a malfunction indicator lamp(MIL) to be illuminated in the vehicle 215A. The vehicle interfacedevice 250 is typically removed after the vehicle malfunction has beenrepaired or after the network communication device 255 has communicatedwith the transmission server 120. As an example, the vehicle interfacedevice 250 can comprise a ZUBIE® vehicle monitoring device model numberGL700C sold by the BEST BUY® retail store, an AUDIOVOX car connectionelite monitor sold by the BEST BUY® retail store with SKU 6365119, aGEOTAB® G07® expandable plug-and-play telematics device sold by Geotab,Inc., Oakville, Ontario, Canada. Other examples of the vehicle interfacedevice 250 are also possible.

The vehicle interface device 250 can communicate with the networkcommunication device 255 in various ways. As an example, the vehicleinterface device 250 can communicate wirelessly with the networkcommunication device 255. Those wireless communications between thevehicle interface device 250 and the network communication device 255can be arranged in accordance with one or more wireless communicationstandards or protocols such as an IEEE standard, such as an IEEE 802.11standard (e.g., 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, or 802.11n) or an IEEE 802.15standard (e.g., 802.15.1, 802.15,3, 802.15.4 (ZigBee), or 802.15.5) forwireless personal area networks (PANs), a Bluetooth version 4.1 or 4.2standard developed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) ofKirkland, Wash., or an IEEE 802.11 standard for wireless LAN (which issometimes referred to as a Wi-Fi standard), an InternationalOrganization for Standardization (ISO/International ElectrotechnicalCommission (IEC) standard such as the ISO/IEC 18000-3 standard for NearField Communication (NFC), the Sigfox communication standard, the Neulcommunication standard, or the LoRaWAN communication standard.

As an example, the network communication device 255 can comprise or beimplemented as a portion of a small-form factor portable (i.e., mobile)electronic device such as a smartphone (e.g., an IPHONE® smartphone fromApple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif., or a GALAXY S® smartphone from SamsungElectronics Co., Ltd. Of Maetan-Dong, Yeongtong-Gu Suwon-Si,Gyeonggi-Do, Republic of Korea), a tablet device (e.g., an IPAD® tabletdevice from Apple Inc., or a SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB tablet device fromSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.), or a wearable computing device (e.g., awireless web-watch device or a personal headset device). The networkcommunication device 255 can comprise an executable applicationdownloaded to a transceiver of the network communication device 255 fromthe APP STORE® online retail store, from the GOOGLE PLAY® online retailstore, or another source of an application or the CRPI executable by thenetwork communication device 255.

As another example, the vehicle interface device 250 and the networkcommunication device 255 can be co-located in a single casing. Inaccordance with this example, the vehicle interface device 250 and thenetwork communication device 255 can be communicatively coupled via awired circuit such as a system bus or a printed circuit. The networkcommunication device 255 can connect to the computer network 110 in anyof the ways in which the network communication device 225 is describedas connecting the computer network 110.

C. Transmission Server

Next, FIG. 3 is a simple block diagram of the transmission server 120 inaccordance with an example embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, thetransmission server 120 comprises a processor 300, a network transceiver305, and a 310. Two or more of the aforementioned components shown inFIG. 3 may be communicatively coupled or linked together via a systembus, network, or other connection mechanism 315. The transmission server120 can comprise a component of the computing device 1600 shown in FIG.16. The transmission server 120 can comprise a component of the computerprogram product 1700 shown in FIG. 17.

The memory 310 comprises CRPI 320, vehicle model information 325,vehicle condition information 330, vehicle owner information 335,computing server information 340, computer network transmission data345, and vehicle contact information 350. The CRPI 320 comprise programsinstruction executable by the processor 500.

1. Processor

A processor, such as the processor 300 or any other processor (e.g., aprocessor 400 or a processor 500) discussed in this description orcomprised within a device or system described in this description, maycomprise one or more processors, such as one or more general purposeprocessors (e.g., an INTEL® single core microprocessors or an INTEL®multicore microprocessors) or one or more special purpose processors(e.g., a digital signal processor, a graphics processor, an embeddedprocessor, or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)processor). A graphics processor may be configured to access and use amemory for creating, or retrieving GUI to display on a display. Anembedded processor can comprise a central processing unit chip used in asystem that is not a general-purpose workstation, laptop, or desktopcomputer. A processor may be configured to execute computer-readableprogram instructions (CRPI) stored in a memory. A processor may beconfigured to execute hard-coded functionality in addition to or as analternative to software-coded functionality (e.g., via CRPI).

2. Network Transceiver

The network transceiver, such as the network transceiver 305 or anyother network transceiver (e.g., a network transceiver 1610 or a networktransceiver 505) discussed in this description or comprised within adevice or system described in this description, may comprise one or morenetwork transceivers. Each network transceiver comprises one or moretransmitters configured to transmit data or a communication onto acomputer network, such as the computer network 110. The networktransceiver 305 can transmit any data or computer network transmissiondiscussed as being transmitted, output, or provided by the transmissionserver 120 or the network transceiver 305. Each network transceiver(e.g., the network transceiver 305, 1610 or 505) comprises one or morereceivers configured to receive data or a computer network transmissioncarried over a computer network, such as the computer network 110. Thenetwork transceiver 305 can receive any data or computer networktransmission discussed as being received by the transmission server 120or the network transceiver 305.

Each network transceiver can comprise a wireless transceiver tocommunicate with a separate wireless transceiver or wireless receiver. Atransmitter, such as a transmitter in the network transceiver 305, 1610,or 505, can transmit a radio signal carrying data or a computer networktransmission, and a receiver, such as a receiver in the networktransceiver 305, 1610, or 505, can receive a radio signal carrying dataor a computer network transmission. A transceiver with a radiotransmitter and radio receiver can comprise one or more antennas and canbe referred to as a “radio transceiver,” an “RF transceiver,” or a“wireless transceiver.”

A radio signal transmitted or received by a radio transceiver can bearranged in accordance with one or more wireless communication standardsor protocols such as an IEEE standard, such as (i) an IEEE 802.11standard for wireless LAN (which is sometimes referred to as a Wi-Fistandard) (e.g., 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, or 802.11n), (ii) an IEEE802.15 standard (e.g., 802.15.1, 802.15,3, 802.15.4 (ZigBee), or802.15.5) for wireless personal area networks (PANs), (iii) a Bluetoothversion 4.1 or 4.2 standard developed by the Bluetooth Special InterestGroup (SIG) of Kirkland, Wash., (iv) a cellular wireless communicationstandard such as an LTE standard, (v) a CDMA standard, (vi) an IDENstandard, (vii) a GSM standard, (viii) a GPRS standard, (ix) a UMTSstandard, (x) an EDGE standard, (xi) a MMDS standard, (xii) an ITUstandard, such as the ITU-T G.9959 standard referred to as the Z-Wavestandard, (xiii) a 6LoWPAN standard, (xiv) a Thread networking protocol,(xv) an ISO/IEC standard such as the ISO/IEC 18000-3 standard for NFC,(xvi) the Sigfox communication standard, (xvii) the Neul communicationstandard, or (xviii) the LoRaWAN communication standard. Other examplesof the wireless communication standards or protocols are possible.

Additionally or alternatively, a transmitter, such as a transmitter inthe network transceiver 305, 1610, or 505, can transmit a signal (e.g.,one or more signals or one or more electrical waves) carrying orrepresenting data or a communication onto a wire (e.g., one or morewires) and a receiver, such as a receiver in the network transceiver305, 1610, or 505, can receive via a wire a signal carrying orrepresenting data or a communication over the wire. The wire can be partof a computer network, such as the computer network 110. The signalcarried over a wire can be arranged in accordance with a wiredcommunication standard such as a Transmission Control Protocol/InternetProtocol (TCP/IP), an IEEE 802.3 Ethernet communication standard for aLAN, a data over cable service interface specification (DOCSISstandard), such as DOCSIS 3.1, a USB specification (as previouslydescribed), or some other wired communication standard.

The data or communication transmitted by a network transceiver, such asthe network transceiver 305, 1610, or 505, can comprise a destinationidentifier or address of a network device to which the data orcommunication is to be transmitted. The data or communicationtransmitted by a network transceiver can comprise a source identifier oraddress of the system component including the network transceiver. Thesource identifier or address can be used to send a response to thenetwork device that comprises the network transceiver that sent the dataor communication.

A network transceiver that is configured to carry out communicationsover the computer network 110, such as the network transceiver 305,1610, or 505, can comprise at least one of the following: a modem, anetwork interface card, or a chip mountable on a circuit board. As anexample the chip can comprise a CC3100 Wi-Fi® network processoravailable from Texas Instruments, Dallas, Tex., a CC256MODx Bluetooth®Host Controller Interface (HCI) module available from Texas instruments,or a different chip for communicating via Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth® or anothercommunication protocol.

A device within or coupled to the computer network 110 or thatcommunicates via the computer network 110 using a packet-switchedtechnology can be locally configured for a next ‘hop’ in the network(e.g., a device or address where to send data to, and where to expectdata from). As an example, a device (e.g., a transceiver) configured forcommunicating using an IEEE 802.11 standard can be configured with anetwork name, a network security type, and a password. Some devicesauto-negotiate this information through a discovery mechanism (e.g., acellular phone technology).

3. Memory

A memory, such as the memory 310 or any other memory (e.g., a memory 410or a memory 510) discussed in this description, can comprise one or morememories. Any memory discussed in this description can thus be referredto as least one memory or one or more memories. A memory can comprise anon-transitory memory, a transitory memory, or both a non-transitorymemory and a transitory memory. A non-transitory memory, or a portionthereof, can be located within or as part of a processor (e.g., within asingle integrated circuit chip). A non-transitory memory, or a portionthereof, can be separate and distinct from a processor.

A non-transitory memory can comprise a volatile or non-volatile storagecomponent, such as an optical, magnetic, organic or other memory or discstorage component. Additionally or alternatively, a non-transitorymemory can comprise or be configured as a random-access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), anerasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EEPROM), or a compact disk read-onlymemory (CD-ROM). The RAM can comprise static RAM or dynamic RAM. Atransitory memory can comprise, for example, CRPI provided over acommunication link, such as the computer network 110.

A “memory” can be referred to by other terms such as a“computer-readable memory,” a “computer-readable medium,” a“computer-readable storage medium,” a “data storage device,” a “memorydevice,” “computer-readable media,” a “computer-readable database,” “atleast one computer-readable medium,” or “one or more computer-readablemedium.” Any of those alternative terms can be preceded by the prefix“transitory” if the memory is transitory or “non-transitory” if thememory is non-transitory. For a memory comprising multiple memories, twoor more of the multiple memories can be the same type of memory ordifferent types of memories.

The CRPI 320 can comprise program instructions executable by theprocessor 300 to carry out any one or more functions described herein orrepresented by the figures as being performed, at least in part, by thetransmission server 120 or a component of the transmission server 120.In general, CRPI, such as the CRPI 320 or any other CRPI (e.g., CRPI 420or CRPI 530) described herein, comprise program instructions executableby a processor. Further, and in general, CRPI may comprise variousstructures, modules, routines, or some other computer-readable logic.Further still, and in general, CRPI may be written using acomputer-programming language such as C++ or some other programminglanguage.

The CRPI 320 can comprise program instructions to receive CNT via thecomputer network 110 and parse the received CNT to obtain data containedwithin the received CNT. The data contained within the received CNT cancomprise vehicle model information that the processor 300 causes to bestored in the vehicle model information 325, vehicle owner informationthat the processor 300 causes to be stored in the vehicle ownerinformation 335, or vehicle condition information that the processor 300causes to be stored in the vehicle condition information 330.

The vehicle model information 325 can comprise a variety of dataregarding a vehicle. As an example, the vehicle model information 325can comprise any of the vehicle model information 925 shown in FIG. 9,the vehicle model information 1025 shown in FIG. 10, or the vehiclemodel information 1110 shown in FIG. 11.

The vehicle condition information 330 can comprise a variety of dataregarding an operating condition of a vehicle. As an example, thevehicle condition information 330 can comprise a DTC identifier reportedby an ECU within a vehicle, or a PID and PID data value associated withthe PID from an ECU within the vehicle. As another example, the vehiclecondition information 330 can comprise a vehicle condition regarding thevehicle reported via a user comment contained in a computer networktransmission.

The vehicle owner information 335 can comprise data regarding a vehicleowner. As an example, the vehicle owner information 335 can comprise anyof the vehicle owner information 920 shown in FIG. 9, the vehicle modelinformation shown in FIG. 10, or the vehicle owner information 1105shown in FIG. 11.

The computing server information 340 can comprise data regarding acomputing server, such as the computing server 125. As an example, thecomputing server information 340 can comprise data (e.g., an IP addressand port of the computing server 125) the processor 300 uses todetermine where to send a CNT so that the computing server can alert arepair shop regarding a vehicle condition. The data regarding acomputing server can be associated with vehicle owner information orvehicle model information associated with the vehicle.

The computer network transmission data 345 can comprise data of a CNTreceived by the transmission sever 120, which can comprise datacontained within an example CNT 610 or CNT 630 shown in FIG. 6, or anexample CNT 705 or 725 shown in FIG. 7. The computer networktransmission data 345 can comprise data of a CNT to be transmitted bythe transmission sever 120, which can comprise data contained within anexample CNT 615 or 635 shown in FIG. 6, or an example CNT 710 or 730shown in FIG. 7. In other words, computer network transmission data 345can comprise data selected from vehicle owner information, vehicle modelinformation, or vehicle condition information.

The vehicle contact information 350 can comprise data the processor 300uses to determine where to send a CNT to the vehicle, such as an IPaddress of the network communication device 225 or 255. The vehiclecontact information for a vehicle can be associated with vehicle ownerinformation or vehicle model information associated with the vehicle.

Next, FIG. 4 is a simple block diagram of the computing server 125 inaccordance with an example embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the computingserver 125 comprises the processor 400, the network transceiver 405, andthe memory 410. Two or more of the aforementioned components shown inFIG. 4 may be communicatively coupled or linked together via a systembus, network, or other connection mechanism 415. Aspects regarding theprocessor 400, the network transceiver 405, and the memory 410 arediscussed above. The computing server 125 can comprise a component ofthe computing device 1600 shown in FIG. 16. The computing server 125 cancomprise a component of the computer program product 1700 shown in FIG.17.

The memory 410 can comprise CRPI 420, vehicle model information 425,vehicle condition information 430, vehicle owner information 435,transmission server information 440

The CRPI 420 can comprise program instructions executable by theprocessor 400 to carry out any one or more functions described herein orrepresented by the figures as being performed, at least in part, by thecomputing server 125 or a component of the computing server 125.

The CRPI 420 can comprise program instructions to receive CNT via thecomputer network 110 and parse the received CNT to obtain data containedwithin the received CNT. The data contained within the received CNT cancomprise vehicle model information that the processor 400 causes to bestored in the vehicle model information 425, vehicle owner informationthat the processor 400 causes to be stored in the vehicle ownerinformation 435, or vehicle condition information that the processor 400causes to be stored in the vehicle condition information 430.

The vehicle model information 425 can comprise a variety of dataregarding a vehicle. As an example, the vehicle model information 425can comprise any of the vehicle model information 925 shown in FIG. 9,the vehicle model information 1025 shown in FIG. 10, or the vehiclemodel information 1110 shown in FIG. 11.

The vehicle condition information 430 can comprise a variety of dataregarding an operating condition of a vehicle. As an example, thevehicle condition information 430 can comprise a DTC identifier reportedby an ECU within a vehicle, or a PID and PID data value associated withthe PID from an ECU within the vehicle. As another example, the vehiclecondition information 430 can comprise a vehicle condition regarding thevehicle reported via a user comment contained in a computer networktransmission.

The vehicle owner information 435 can comprise data regarding a vehicleowner. As an example, the vehicle owner information 435 can comprise anyof the vehicle owner information 920 shown in FIG. 9, the vehicle modelinformation shown in FIG. 10, or the vehicle owner information 1105shown in FIG. 11.

The transmission server information 440 can comprise data regarding atransmission server that communicates with the computing server 125,such as the transmission server 120. As an example, the transmissionserver information 440 can comprise data (e.g., an IP address and portof the transmission server 120) the processor 400 uses to determinewhere to send a CNT so that the computing server 125 can send a responseto the transmission server, such as a registration request or alertresponse. The data regarding a transmission server can be associatedwith vehicle owner information or vehicle model information associatedwith the vehicle.

The client computing device information 445 can comprise data theprocessor 400 uses to determine where to send a CNT destined for theclient computing device 125, such as an IP address of the clientcomputing device 125. The client computing device information 445 can beassociated with vehicle owner information or vehicle model informationassociated with the vehicle identified in a CNT the computing server 120receives from the transmission sever 120.

The computer network transmission data 450 can comprise data of a CNTreceived by the computing sever 125, which can comprise data containedwithin an example CNT 615 or CNT 625 shown in FIG. 6, or an example CNT710 or 720 shown in FIG. 7. The computer network transmission data 450can comprise data of a CNT to be transmitted by the computing sever 125,which can comprise data contained within an example CNT 620 or 630 shownin FIG. 6, or an example CNT 715 or 725 shown in FIG. 7. In other words,computer network transmission data 450 can comprise data selected fromvehicle owner information, vehicle model information, or vehiclecondition information.

The schedule 455 can comprise a schedule the computing server 125generates, maintains, and provides to the client computing device 130for the repair shop 135. As an example, the schedule 455 can compriseany of the following schedule data: regular business hours data, holidaysetup data, appointment data, appointment state data, shop resourceusage data, technician setup data, employee data, calendar data, orcustomer data. The customer data can comprise the vehicle condition datareported by the customer's vehicle. The schedule 455 can compriseschedules for multiple repair shops.

Next, FIG. 5 is a simple block diagram of the client computing device130 in accordance with an example embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, theclient computing device 130 comprises the processor 500, the networktransceiver 505, the memory 510, a display 515, and a keypad 520. Two ormore of the aforementioned components shown in FIG. 5 can becommunicatively coupled or linked together via a system bus, network, orother connection mechanism 525. Aspects regarding the processor 500, thenetwork transceiver 505, and the memory 510 are discussed above. Theclient computing device 130 can comprise a component of the computingdevice 1600 shown in FIG. 16. The client computing device 130 cancomprise a component of the computer program product 1700 shown in FIG.17.

The memory 510 comprises CRPI 530, vehicle model information 535,vehicle condition information 540, vehicle owner information 545,computing server information 550, a display output 555, and computernetwork transmission data 560. The CRPI 530 comprise programsinstruction executable by the processor 500.

As an example, the client computing device 130 can comprise, or can beconfigured as, a desktop computing system, such as an OptiPlex® 9020Mini Tower desktop computing system available from Dell ComputerCorporation, Austin, Tex., or some other desktop computing system. Theclient computing device 130 can comprise, or can be configured as, alaptop computing system, such as the Dell Chromebook desktop computingsystem available from Dell Computer Corporation, or some other laptopcomputing system.

As an example, the client computing device 130 can comprise, or can beconfigured as, a smartphone (e.g., an example smartphone listed above).As another example, the client computing device 130 can comprise, or canbe configured as, a tablet device (e.g., an example table device listedabove).

The display 515 can comprise one or more displays. As an example, thedisplay 515 can comprise a capacitive touch display, a resistive touchdisplay, a plasma display, a light emitting diode (LED) display, acathode ray tube display, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED)display, such as an active-matrix OLED or a passive-matrix OLED, or abacklit color liquid crystal display (LCD) having a resistive touch orpanel. Data or selections can be entered at the client computing device130 by way of a stylus in contact with the display 515.

The keypad 520 can comprise a keyboard or a pointing device. Thekeyboard can comprise, or can be configured as, a wired or wirelessQWERTY keyboard or some other keyboard for entering data or selectionsinto the client computing device 130. The pointing device can comprise,or can be configured as, a wired or wireless computer mouse. As anexample, the keypad 520 can select an accept selector 810 (shown in FIG.8) or a decline selector 815 (shown in FIG. 8). Data or selections maybe entered at the client computing device 130 in other ways as well.

The CRPI 530 can comprise program instructions executable by theprocessor 500 to carry out any one or more functions described herein orrepresented by the figures as being performed, at least in part, by theclient computing device 130 or a component of the client computingdevice 130.

The CRPI 530 can comprise program instructions to receive CNT via thecomputer network 110 and parse the received CNT to obtain data containedwithin the received CNT. The data contained within the received CNT cancomprise vehicle model information that the processor 500 causes to bestored in the vehicle model information 535, vehicle owner informationthat the processor 500 causes to be stored in the vehicle ownerinformation 545, or vehicle condition information that the processor 500causes to be stored in the vehicle condition information 540.

The vehicle model information 535 can comprise a variety of dataregarding a vehicle. As an example, the vehicle model information 535can comprise any of the vehicle model information 925 shown in FIG. 9,the vehicle model information 1025 shown in FIG. 10, or the vehiclemodel information 1110 shown in FIG. 11.

The vehicle condition information 540 can comprise a variety of dataregarding an operating condition of a vehicle. As an example, thevehicle condition information 540 can comprise a DTC identifier reportedby an ECU within a vehicle, or a PID and PID data value associated withthe PID from an ECU within the vehicle. As another example, the vehiclecondition information 540 can comprise a vehicle condition regarding thevehicle reported via a user comment contained in a computer networktransmission.

The vehicle owner information 545 can comprise data regarding a vehicleowner. As an example, the vehicle owner information 545 can comprise anyof the vehicle owner information 920 shown in FIG. 9, the vehicle modelinformation shown in FIG. 10, or the vehicle owner information 1105shown in FIG. 11.

The computing server information 550 can comprise data the processor 500uses to determine where to send a CNT destined for the computing server120, such as an IP address of the computing server 120. The computingserver information 550 can comprise the address information containedwithin a CNT the client computing device 125 receives from the computingserver 120.

The display output 555 can comprise the data populated in each displayoutput shown in any of the figures. Each display output can comprise agraphical user interface (GUI). Each display output can comprise anhyper-text markup language browser page transmitted to the clientcomputing device 130 from the computing server 125.

The computer network transmission data 560 can comprise data of a CNTreceived by the client computing device 130, which can comprise datacontained within an example CNT 620 shown in FIG. 6, or an example CNT715 shown in FIG. 7. The computer network transmission data 560 cancomprise data of a CNT to be transmitted by the client computing device130, which can comprise data contained within an example CNT 625 shownin FIG. 6, or an example CNT 720 shown in FIG. 7. In other words,computer network transmission data 560 can comprise data selected fromvehicle owner information, vehicle model information, or vehiclecondition information.

The schedule 565 can comprise any portion of the schedule 455 stored inthe computing server 120 that the computing server transmits to theclient computing device 125 and that the client computing device 125stores. The schedule 565 may include a single output display (e.g., asingle page) of the schedule maintained for the repair shop 135.Alternatively, the schedule may include multiple output displays of theschedule maintained for the repair shop 135. The keypad 520 can be usedto cycle through the multiple output displays stored in the schedule565.

III. Example Computer Network Transmission Flows

Next, FIG. 6 is a diagram of an example computer network transmissionflow 600 performed by a request initiator 605, the transmission server120, the computing server 125 and the client computing device 130. Therequest initiator 605 can comprise the vehicle 115, 2215A, or 2215B, thenetwork communication device 225 or 255, or another computing device(not shown) connectable to the computer network 110, such as a smartphone, a tablet device, a desk top computer or some other computingdevice that can communicate over the computer network 110. The computernetwork transmission flow 600 comprises a computer network transmission(CNT) 610, a CNT 615, a CNT 620, a CNT 625, a CNT 630, and a CNT 635.

The CNT 610 comprises a registration request sent by the requestinitiator 605 to the transmission server 120. The registration requestof the CNT 610 can comprise information regarding a vehicle, informationregarding a vehicle owner, and an identifier of the repair shop 135. TheCNT 615 comprises a registration request sent by the transmission server120 to the computing server 125. The registration request of the CNT 615can comprise the information regarding the vehicle, the informationregarding the vehicle owner, and the identifier of the repair shop 135that are contained within the CNT 610. The registration request of theCNT 620 can comprise the information regarding the vehicle and theinformation regarding the vehicle owner that are contained within theCNT 610 and the CNT 615.

The CNT 625 comprises a response to the registration request sent by theclient computing device 130 to the computing server 125. The CNT 630comprises a response to the registration request sent by the computingserver 125 to the transmission server 120. The CNT 635 comprises aresponse to the registration request sent by the transmission server 120to the request initiator 605. The response to the registration requestin each of the CNT 625, 630, and 635 can indicate the registrationrequest is accepted or the registration request is declined.

Next, FIG. 7 is a diagram of an example computer network transmissionflow 700 performed by a vehicle 735, the transmission server 120, thecomputing server 125 and the client computing device 130. The computernetwork transmission flow 700 comprises a computer network transmission(CNT) 705, a CNT 710, a CNT 715, a CNT 720, a CNT 725, and a CNT 730.The CNT 705 is transmitted by the vehicle 115 to the transmission server120 and the CNT 730 is transmitted by the transmission server 120 to thevehicle 115. The vehicle 735 represents any example vehicle described inthis description or shown in the figures. Accordingly, the CNT 705transmitted by the vehicle 735 can be transmitted by the networkcommunication device 225 or 255, and the CNT 730 can be received by thenetwork communication device 225 or 255.

The CNT 705 comprises vehicle data reported by the vehicle 735. Thevehicle data reported by the vehicle 735 can comprise vehicle conditioninformation. The vehicle data reported by the vehicle 735 can, forexample, comprise a DTC identifier reported by an ECU within the vehicle735, or a PID and PID data value associated with the PID. The CNT 705can comprise other data for reporting in an alert to the clientcomputing device 130, such as vehicle owner information and/or vehiclemodel information.

The CNT 710 comprises vehicle data reported by the vehicle 735. Thetransmission server 120 can determine that the vehicle data reported bythe vehicle 735 is to be transmitted to the computing server 125. Thatdetermination can, for example, be based on the vehicle owner indicatedby the vehicle owner information or the vehicle identified by thevehicle model information being associated with the computing server120, the client computing device 130, or the repair shop 135 as a resultof a registration request of that vehicle owner or vehicle.

The CNT 715 comprises vehicle data reported by the vehicle 735. Thecomputing server 125 can determine that the vehicle data reported by thevehicle 735 is to be transmitted to the client computing device 130.That determination can, for example, be based on the vehicle ownerindicated by the vehicle owner information or the vehicle identified bythe vehicle model information being associated with the client computingdevice 130 or the repair shop 135 as a result of a registration requestof that vehicle owner or vehicle. The client computing device 130 candisplay a display output, such as the display output 1000, comprising analert in response to receiving the CNT 715.

The CNT 720, the CNT 725, and the CNT 730 comprise an alert response.The client computing device 130 transmits the CNT 720 to the computingserver 125. The computing server 125 transmits the CNT 725 to thetransmission server 120. The transmission server 120 transmits the CNT730 to the vehicle 735. The alert response of the CNT 720, the CNT 725,or the CNT 735 can comprise data indicating the repair shop received thevehicle data the vehicle transmitted via the CNT 705. The data withinthe alert response of the CNT 720, the CNT 725, or the CNT 735 canindicate the repair shop will contact the vehicle owner.

A method of the example embodiments can comprise performing the computernetwork transmission flow 600 followed by the computer networktransmission flow 700. A method of the example embodiments, performed bya vehicle, can comprise (i) transmitting the CNT 610, receiving the CNT635, and/or (ii) transmitting the CNT 705 and receiving the CNT 730. Amethod of the example embodiments, performed by the transmission server120, can comprise (i) receiving the CNT 610, transmitting the CNT 615,receiving the CNT 630, and transmitting the CNT 635, and/or (ii)receiving the CNT 705, transmitting the CNT 710, receiving the CNT 725,and transmitting the CNT 730. A method of the example embodiments,performed by the computing server 125, can comprise (i) receiving theCNT 615, transmitting the CNT 620, receiving the CNT 625, andtransmitting the CNT 630, and/or (ii) receiving the CNT 710,transmitting the CNT 715, receiving the CNT 720, and transmitting theCNT 725. A method of the example embodiments, performed by the clientcomputing device 130 can comprise (i) receiving the CNT 620 andtransmitting the CNT 625, and/or (ii) receiving the CNT 717 andtransmitting the CNT 720. Other example methods based on at least oneCNT of the computer network transmission flow 600 or the computernetwork transmission flow 700 are also possible.

The data transferred in a CNT shown in the computer network transmissionflow 600 or the computer network transmission flow 700 can be formattedin accordance with a JavaScript Object Nation (JSON) format, anextensible markup language (XLM) format, or another data format. In analternative embodiment, an alert response from the client computingdevice 130 to the vehicle 735 can occur via a direct message bypassingthe computing server 125 and transmission server 120, such as a textmessage or an e-mail message between the client computing device 130 andthe vehicle 735 (e.g., the network communication device 225 or 255).

IV. Example Operation

Next, FIG. 8 shows a flowchart depicting a set of functions 800 (or moresimply “the set 800”) that can be carried out in accordance with theexample embodiments described in this description. The set 800 comprisesthe functions shown in blocks labeled with whole numbers 801 through 804inclusive. The following description of the set 800 comprises referencesto elements shown in other figures described in this description, butthe functions of the set 800 are not limited to being carried out onlyby the referenced elements. A variety of methods can be performed usingall of the functions shown in the set 800 or any proper subset of thefunctions shown in the set 800. Any of those methods can be performedwith other functions such as one or more of the other functionsdescribed in this description. A processor can execute CRPI to performor cause another component to perform a function or some portion of afunction of the set 800.

Block 801 includes receiving, by the computing server 125, a firstcomputer network transmission (CNT) comprising data indicative of avehicle and data indicative of a vehicle condition of the vehiclereported by the vehicle. As an example, receiving the first CNT cancomprise receiving the CNT 710. The first CNT can comprise acommunication transmitted over an internet protocol network. An internetprotocol message can be transmitted according to a transmission controlprotocol. The internet protocol message can comprise a source port ofthe transmitter of the message and a destination port of the messagedestination.

The data indicative of the vehicle can comprise any vehicle modelinformation described in this description. The data indicative of thevehicle can comprise any vehicle owner information described in thisdescription. The data indicative of the vehicle condition can compriseany vehicle condition information described in this description. As anexample, the data indicative of the vehicle can comprise a VIN or atleast a portion of a VIN. As another example, the data indicative of thevehicle can comprise an account identifier associated with the vehicleor an owner of the vehicle.

The data indicative of the vehicle condition of the vehicle reported bythe vehicle can comprise data indicative of a vehicle mileage and/ordata indicative of a vehicle symptom. As an example, the data indicativeof the vehicle symptom can comprise a diagnostic trouble code set withinthe vehicle. As another example, the data indicative of the vehiclesymptom can comprise a parameter and a parameter identifier, such as aparameter indicative of a voltage and a PID indicative of a mass airflow sensor. As another example, the data indicative of the vehiclecondition of the vehicle reported by the vehicle can comprise dataindicative of a vehicle mileage reported by the vehicle.

The first CNT can be transmitted to the computing server 125 from thetransmission server 120 via the computer network 110. The transmissionsever can transmit the first CNT in response to receiving a CNT (e.g.,the CNT 705) from a vehicle and/or a computer network device associatedwith the vehicle, such as the computer network device 225 or 255. Thenetwork transceiver 405 can receive the first CNT and provide the firstCNT to the processor 400 and/or the memory 410 for storing the first CNTwithin the CNT data 450.

As an example, the transmission server can be communicatively coupled tothe network communication device communicatively coupled to anelectronic control unit in the vehicle, or a network communicationdevice communicatively coupled to a vehicle interface device removablyconnected to an on-board diagnostic connector in the vehicle. Thenetwork communication device communicatively coupled to an electroniccontrol unit in the vehicle or the network communication devicecommunicatively coupled to a vehicle interface device can comprise acellular communication device.

Next, block 802 includes parsing, by the computing server 125, the firstcomputer network transmission to obtain the data indicative of thevehicle and the data indicative of the vehicle condition of the vehiclereported by the vehicle. The data indicative of the vehicle can comprisevarious data, such vehicle model information and vehicle ownerinformation.

Parsing the first CNT can comprise parsing the first CNT to obtain oneor more data elements regarding a vehicle model and/or one or more dataelements regarding the vehicle owner. Parsing the first CNT can comprisedetermining what each data element represents. The data elementsregarding the vehicle model can, for example, comprise a data elementrepresenting a vehicle identification number, a vehicle manufacturername, a vehicle model year, a vehicle model name, a vehicle component(e.g., a vehicle engine), a license plate number, or a vehicle color.The data elements regarding the vehicle condition can, for example,comprise a data element representing a DTC, PID, or PID data valuereported by the vehicle or a non-DTC symptom entered via an applicationexecuting on the network communication device 225 or 255. The processor400 can cause the data elements parsed from the first CNT to be storedin the vehicle model information 425, the vehicle condition information430, or the vehicle owner information 435. Each parsed data elementcomprises data.

Next, block 803 includes determining, by the computing server 125 basedon the data indicative of the vehicle, a computer network addressassociated with a repair shop having a client computing device disposedat the computer network address to display content of a schedulerapplication served by the computing server 125. The computer networkaddress associated with the determined shop identifier can comprise aninternet protocol address.

Table 1 shows examples of various data elements that can be stored inthe memory 410. The row numbers in Table 1 are provided for referencepurposes. Rows 1, 2, 3, and 4 comprise a name of an owner listed in anorder of a family name followed by a given name for the vehicle ownerinformation. Row 5 comprises a customer identifier for the vehicle ownerinformation. Rows 1, 3, 4, and 5 comprise a VIN for the vehicle modelinformation. Row 2 comprises a license plate number for the vehiclemodel information. Rows 1 to 5 show names of repair shops to representthe repair shops. Rows 1 to 3 show example IP addresses associated withthe repair shops listed in those same rows. Rows 4 and 5 show the repairshop address as null to indicate the client computing device at Pat'sTire Shop is not connected to the computing server 125. The repair shopaddresses shown in Table 1 can be stored in the client computing deviceinformation 445. A repair shop address for Pat's Tire Shop can be storedwith the client computing device information 445 upon a user logginginto the client computing server 125 from a client computing devicelocated at or associated with Pat's Tire Shop.

TABLE 1 Vehicle Repair Repair Shop Owner Vehicle Model Shop Address RowWilliams, JTHBA30G955087040 Johnson's 192.165.1.45 1 Monica RepairPerez, WA 845 333X Mitchell's 124.45.83.0 2 Juan Repair Smithers,3FADP4EJ9BM0123456 ACME 209.64.34.31 3 Brenda Repair Jefferson,1GKDRSKDXHJ592700 Pat's Tire Null 4 Tom Shop PTS01004 1G1KAJ2ERXEJ704841Pat's Tire Null 5 Shop

As an example, the processor 400 can search the memory 410 to determinethe vehicle owner information or vehicle model information containedwithin the CNT 710 is associated with the repair shop address shown inrow 1 of Table 1.

Next, block 804 includes transmitting, by the computing server 125 tothe client computing device 130 disposed at the computer network addressassociated with the repair shop 135, a second computer networktransmission comprising data to cause the client computing device 130 todisplay as part of the content of the scheduler application served bycomputing server 125 an alert indicator and parsed data indicative ofthe vehicle and the parsed data indicative of the vehicle condition ofthe vehicle reported by the vehicle. The second CNT can comprise acommunication transmitted over an internet protocol network.

Additional functions can be performed as part of a method that includesperforming any function of the set 800. Examples of these additionalfunctions pertaining to a function of the set 800 are described in thefollowing five paragraphs.

An additional function pertaining to a function of the set 800 cancomprise (i) receiving, by the computing server 125, data indicating anidentifier of the vehicle mileage displayed by the client computingdevice 130 was selected, and (ii) transmitting, by the computing sever125, a maintenance schedule (e.g., the maintenance schedule 1820) basedon the vehicle mileage displayed by the client computing device 130 andbased on the data indicative of the vehicle to cause the clientcomputing device 130 to display the maintenance schedule.

An additional function pertaining to a function of the set 800 cancomprise receiving, by the computing server 125 from the clientcomputing device 130, an input to populate a schedule of the content ofthe scheduler application served by the computing server 125.

An additional function pertaining to a function of the set 800 cancomprise receiving, by the computing server 125, a third computernetwork transmission comprising a request to register the vehicle,wherein the request comprises data indicative of a vehicle owner of thevehicle and data pertaining to the repair shop, and (ii) transmitting,by the computing server 125 to the client computing device 130, a fourthcomputer network transmission comprising data to cause the clientcomputing device 130 to display a request identifier indicating thevehicle owner requested to register the vehicle with the scheduleapplication for the repair shop. Furthermore, this additional functionpertaining to a function of the set 800 can comprise receiving, by thecomputing server from the client computing device, a selection indicatorindicating the request to register the vehicle is accepted by the repairshop, and storing, by the computing server, data mapping the vehicle tothe repair shop. The data pertaining to the repair shop can, forexample, shop comprise data indicating a name of the repair shop.

An additional function pertaining to a function of the set 800 cancomprise the computing sever 125 transmitting a user comment entered viaa network communication device (e.g., network communication device 225or 255) communicatively coupled to the transmission server 120. The usercomment can be contained within the first computer network transmission.

An additional function pertaining to a function of the set 800 cancomprise the computing server 125 receiving a geolocation identifier ofthe vehicle within the first computer network transmission, andtransmitting the geolocation identifier of the vehicle to the clientcomputing device 130 via the second computer network transmission.

V. Example Display Outputs

Next, FIG. 9 depicts a display output 900 in accordance with an exampleembodiment. The client computing device 130 can display the displayoutput 900 on the display 515 in response to receiving the CNT 620. Inparticular, the processor 500 can parse the registration request of theCNT 620 to populate the display output 900 with a request identifier905, vehicle owner information 920, and vehicle model information 925.The request identifier 905 can comprise text such as “OnboardingRequest” or some other text. The request identifier 905 can comprise anumeric identifier indicative of how many registration requests arepending for accepting or declining. The display output 900 can comprisean accept selector 910 selectable by use of the keypad 520 to provide anindication to the processor 500 that the registration request has beenaccepted. The display output 900 can comprise a decline selector 915selectable by use of the keypad 520 to provide an indication to theprocessor 500 that the registration request has been declined.

In response to determining the registration request of the CNT 620 isaccepted, the processor 500 can cause the vehicle owner information 920to be stored in the memory 510 as at least part of the vehicle ownerinformation 545, and the vehicle model information 925 to be stored inthe memory 510 as at least part of the vehicles model information 535.

Next, FIG. 10 depicts a display output 1000 in accordance with anexample embodiment. The client computing device 130 can display thedisplay output 1000 on the display 515 in response to receiving thevehicle data of the CNT 715. The display output 1000 comprises an alertindicator 1005 and an alert 1010 comprising vehicle owner information(e.g., a vehicle owner name 1020 and a vehicle owner telephone number1030), vehicle model information 1025, vehicle condition information(e.g., a DTC identifier 1035 and a mileage indicator 1040 indicating howmany miles the vehicle owner's vehicle has been driven), and a vehiclealert submission date and time 1045.

Next, FIG. 11 depicts a display output 1100 in accordance with anexample embodiment. The client computing device 130 can display thedisplay output 1100 on the display 515 in response to receiving thealert 1010 or one of the items of the alert 1010. In particular, theprocessor 500 can parse the vehicle data of the CNT 715 to populate thedisplay output 1100 with vehicle owner information 1105, vehicle modelinformation 1110, and vehicle condition information 1115. The displayoutput 1100 can comprise a schedule selection segment 1120 at which thekeypad 520 can be used to select schedule information for modifying theschedule maintained for the repair shop 135. The display output 1100 cancomprise a provider segment 1125 for indicating a provider ofinformation displayed in the display output 1100. The informationpopulated into the provider segment 1125 can be determined from thevehicle data of the CNT 715. The display output 1100 can comprise analert management selector 1130 to access options for modifying aschedule based on the vehicle data of the CNT 715. The display output1100 can comprise a save and close selector 1135 for saving the vehicledata of the CNT 715 and closing the display output 1100. Closing thedisplay output 1100 can cause the display 515 to display a differentdisplay output of the schedule application.

The schedule selection segment 1120 can comprise a drop off date andtime indicating when the vehicle is expected to be dropped off at therepair shop 135, a promised date and time indicating when the vehiclewill be ready for the customer after being repaired, a start date andtime indicating when the repairs to the vehicle are expected to begin,and an ends date and time indicating when the repairs to the vehicle areexpected to be complete. The drop off, promised, start, and ends datesand times can be default times and dates until one of the drop off,promised, start, and ends dates and times is modified. The scheduleselection segment 1120 includes a scheduled hours time 1140 indicativeof an projected amount of time it will take to repair the vehicle.

Next, FIG. 12 depicts a display output 1200 in accordance with anexample embodiment. The client computing device 130 can display thedisplay output 1200 on the display 515 in response to selection of thealert management selector 1130 (shown in FIG. 11). The display output1200 comprises an expanded alert management selector 1205 comprisingselectors such as a convert to appointment selector 1210, a quick closeselector 1215, or an alert details selector 1220 selectable to providefurther details regarding the vehicle data of the CNT 715 or to access adiagnostics display output pertaining to the vehicle condition indicatedby the vehicle data of the CNT 715.

Selection of the quick close selector 1215 can cause the output display1200 to highlight the shop comments field 1245 to prompt a user to entera comment regarding the vehicle condition. The processor 500 may requirethe comment to be entered before the output display 1200 is closed ifthe quick close selector 1215 is selected. Selection of the quick closeselector 1215 may be desirable when the vehicle condition does notrequire immediate service.

The comment entered into the shop comments field 1245 can memorializeany decisions made regarding the vehicle condition for consideration thenext time the vehicle is brought to the repair shop 135.

The drop off, promised, start, and ends dates and times were modifiedprior to selection of the alert management selector 1130. FIG. 12 showsthe ends time and date as 10:00 AM, 11/1/2017 (i.e., Nov. 1, 2017).Although not shown in FIG. 12, drop off, promised and start dates werechanged to 11/1/2017, the start time was changed to 8:00 AM, the dropoff time was changed to a time no later than 8:00 AM, and the promisedtime was changed to a time no earlier than 10:00 AM. In FIG. 12, theprojected amount of time it will take to repair the vehicle in thescheduled hours time 1140 is indicative an amount of time (i.e., 2.00hours) based on adjustments made in the schedule selection segment 1120.

The display output 1200 can comprise an identifier selectable to causethe display 515 to display a different display output. As an example,the display output 1200 can comprise a symptom identifier 1235selectable to cause the display output to display a display output suchas the display output 1400 or the display output 1500, both of whichcomprise information regarding the symptom shown in the symptomidentifier 1235 or diagnostics selectors selectable to cause the display515 to display information regarding the symptom shown in the symptomidentifier 1235. As an example, the symptom identifier 1235 comprises aDTC identifier. Multiple symptom identifiers can be selected from thevehicle condition information 1115 to obtain relevant to each of themultiple symptoms identified by those identifiers.

As another example, the display output 1200 can comprise a mileageidentifier 1230. Selection of the mileage identifier 1230 can cause thedisplay 515 to display content regarding the vehicle identified in thevehicle model information 1110 and the identified mileage, such as themaintenance schedule 1820 shown in FIG. 18. As another example, thedisplay output 1200 can comprise a geolocation identifier 1225identifying a location of the vehicle reported via the CNT 715.Selection of the geolocation identifier 1225 can cause the display 515to display the display output 1900 shown in FIG. 19.

The display output 1200 can comprise a vehicle owner comment 1240 sentvia the CNT 715. As an example, the vehicle owner comment 1240 cancomprise a non-DTC symptom identifier. The vehicle owner can input thevehicle owner comment 1240 via the network communication device 225 or255 prior to transmission of the CNT 705.

Next, FIG. 13 depicts a display output 1300 in accordance with anexample embodiment. The client computing device 130 can display thedisplay output 1300 on the display 515 in response to selection of theconvert to appointment selector 1210 (shown in FIG. 12). The displayoutput 1300 comprises a schedule entry 1305 based on the start date andtime and the ends date and time selected via the schedule selectionsegment 1120 shown in FIG. 12. The display output 1300 comprises acalendar 1310 and a scheduling menu 1315.

Next, FIG. 14 depicts a display output 1400 in accordance with anexample embodiment. The client computing device 130 can display thedisplay output 1400 on the display 515 in response to selection from thescheduling menu 1315, selection of the alert details selector 1220,selection of a DTC from the vehicle condition information, or some otherselection. The display output 1400 comprises a vehicle model identifier1405, a search identifier selection segment 1410, and search content1415. The search content 1415 can comprise search content selectors suchas a technical bulletins content selector 1420, a real fixes contentselector 1425, a top repairs content selector 1430, a causes-and-fixescontent selector 1435, a specifications content selector 1440, an OEMtesting content selector 1445, a component operation content selector1450, a tips content selector 1455, and a wiring diagrams contentselector 1460. Each of the search content selectors is selectable tocause the client computing device 130 to display content related to thesearch criteria entered into the search identifier selection segment1410.

Next, FIG. 15 depicts a display output 1500 in accordance with anexample embodiment. FIG. 15 shows that the client computing device 130can display diagnostic data transmitted to the client computing device130 from the computing server 125. The client computing device 130 candisplay the display output 1500 on the display 515 in response to aselection from another display output displayed by the display, such asa selection of the symptom identifier 1235 shown in FIG. 12 or thecauses-and-fixes content selector 1435 shown in FIG. 14. The displayoutput 1500 comprises DTC identifiers 1505, related componentidentifiers 1510, links 1515 that link each DTC identifier or group ofDTC identifiers with a related component identifier. The display output1500 comprises a chart 1520 showing a number of known occurrences ofperforming various repairs for a given DTC, such as the DTC identifierP0300.

Next, FIG. 18 depicts a display output 1800 in accordance with anexample embodiment. The client computing device 130 can display thedisplay output 1800 on the display 515 in response to selection of themileage identifier 1230. The display output comprises a mileageidentifier 1805 showing the mileage shown in the mileage identifier1230. The mileage identifier 1805 is positioned in the display output1800 proximate a maintenance schedule 1820 pertaining to the mileagerange 85,000 to 100,000 miles. The display output 1800 can compriseother maintenance schedules for other mileage ranges, such as themaintenance schedule 1810 for the mileage range 60,000 to 70,000 miles,the maintenance schedule 1815 for the mileage range 70,000 to 85,000miles, the maintenance schedule 1825 for the mileage range 100,000 to115,000 miles, and the maintenance schedule 1830 for the mileage range115,000 to 130,000 miles. A repair job in a displayed maintenanceschedule, such as the repair job 1835 for an oil and oil filterreplacement job, can be selected and added to a schedule for the vehicleidentified in the display output 1200.

Next, FIG. 19 depicts a display output 1900 in accordance with anexample embodiment. The client computing device 130 can display thedisplay output 1900 on the display 515 in response to selection of thegeolocation identifier 1225. The display output 1900 comprises a map1905 showing a geolocation identified by the geolocation identifier1225.

VI. Example Computing Devices

FIG. 16 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example computingdevice 1600 used in a computing system that is arranged in accordancewith at least some embodiments described herein. The computing device1600 can be implemented to output a display output as shown in FIG. 9 toFIG. 15. In a basic configuration 1605, computing device 1600 cantypically comprise one or more processors 1610 and system memory 1620. Amemory bus 1699 can be used for communicating between the processor 1610and the system memory 1620. Depending on the desired configuration,processor 1610 can be any type of processor including but not limited toa microprocessor (μP), a microcontroller (μC), a digital signalprocessor (DSP), or any combination thereof. A memory controller 1615can also be used with the processor 1610, or in some implementations,the memory controller 1615 can be an internal part of the processor1610.

Depending on the desired configuration, the system memory 1620 can beany type of computer-readable memory including but not limited tovolatile memory (such as RAM), non-volatile memory (such as ROM, flashmemory, etc.) or any combination thereof. System memory 1620 cancomprise one or more applications 1625, and program data 1635.Application 1625 can comprise an algorithm 1630 that is arranged toreceive data described with respect to FIG. 1 to FIG. 15 and provide aschedule in accordance with the present disclosure. Program data 1635can comprise schedule data 1640 used to generate the schedule. In someexample embodiments, application 1625 can be arranged to operate withprogram data 1635 on an operating system.

Computing device 1600 can have additional features or functionality, andadditional interfaces to facilitate communications between the basicconfiguration 1605 and any devices and interfaces. For example, datastorage devices 1645 can be provided including removable storage devices1650, non-removable storage devices 1655, or a combination thereof.Examples of removable storage and non-removable storage devices comprisemagnetic disk devices such as flexible disk drives and hard-disk drives(HDD), optical disk drives such as compact disc (CD) drives or digitalversatile disk (DVD) drives, solid state drives (SSD), and tape drivesto name a few. Computer storage media can comprise volatile andnonvolatile, non-transitory, removable and non-removable mediaimplemented in any method or technology for storage of information, suchas computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, orother data.

System memory 1620 and storage devices 1645 are examples of computerstorage media. Computer storage media comprises, but is not limited to,RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM,digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magneticcassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magneticstorage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store thedesired information and which can be accessed by computing device 1600.Any such computer storage media can be part of computing device 1600.

Computing device 1600 can also comprise output interfaces 1675 that cancomprise a graphics processing unit 1680, which can be configured tocommunicate to various external devices such as display devices 1690 orspeakers via one or more A/V ports 1685 or a communication interface1660. The communication interface 1660 can comprise a network controller1665, which can be arranged to facilitate communications with one ormore other computing devices over the computer network 110 via one ormore communication ports 1670.

The communication connection is one example of a communication media.Communication media can be embodied by computer-readable instructions,data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated datasignal, such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, andcomprises any information delivery media. A modulated data signal can bea signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed insuch a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example,and not limitation, communication media can comprise wired media such asa wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such asacoustic, radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR) and other wireless media.

Computing device 1600 can be implemented as a portion of a small-formfactor portable (or mobile) electronic device such as a cell phone, asmartphone, a personal data assistant (PDA), a tablet device, a personalmedia player device, a wireless web-watch device, a personal headsetdevice, an application specific device, or a hybrid device that compriseany of the above functions. Computing device 1600 can also beimplemented as a personal computer, including both laptop computer andnon-laptop computer configurations, or a server.

In some embodiments, the disclosed methods can be implemented ascomputer program instructions encoded on a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media in a machine-readable format, or onother non-transitory media or articles of manufacture. FIG. 17 is aschematic illustrating a conceptual partial view of an example computerprogram product 1700 that comprises a computer program for executing acomputer process on a computing device, arranged according to at leastsome embodiments presented herein.

In one embodiment, the example computer program product 1700 is providedusing a signal bearing medium 1705. The signal bearing medium 1705 cancomprise one or more programming instructions 1710 that, when executedby one or more processors can provide functionality or portions of thefunctionality described above with respect to FIG. 1 to FIG. 16.

In some examples, the signal bearing medium 1705 can encompass a CRM1715, such as, but not limited to, a hard disk drive, a Compact Disc(CD), a Digital Video Disk (DVD), a digital tape, memory, etc. In someimplementations, the signal bearing medium 1705 can encompass a computerrecordable medium 1720, such as, but not limited to, memory, read/write(R/W) CDs, R/W DVDs, etc. In some implementations, the signal bearingmedium 1705 can encompass a communications medium 1725, such as, but notlimited to, a digital or an analog communication medium (e.g., a fiberoptic cable, a waveguide, a wired communications link, a wirelesscommunication link, etc.). Thus, for example, the signal bearing medium1705 can be conveyed by a wireless form of the communications medium1725 (e.g., a wireless communications medium conforming to the IEEE802.11 standard or some other transmission protocol).

The one or more programming instructions 1710 can be, for example,computer executable or logic implemented instructions. In some examples,a computing device such as the computing device 1600 of FIG. 32 can beconfigured to provide various operations, functions, or actions inresponse to the programming instructions 455 conveyed to the computingdevice 1600 by one or more of the CRM 1715, the computer recordablemedium 1720, or the communications medium 1725.

VII. Definitions

It should be understood that the arrangements described herein or shownin the drawings are for purposes of example only. As such, those skilledin the art will appreciate that other arrangements and elements (e.g.,machines, interfaces, functions, orders, or groupings of functions) canbe used instead, and some elements can be omitted altogether accordingto the desired results. The diagrams and other data shown in the figuresare provided merely as examples and are not intended to be limiting.Many of the elements illustrated in the figures or described herein arefunctional elements that may be implemented as discrete or distributedcomponents or in conjunction with other components, and in any suitablecombination and location. Furthermore, various functions described orshown in the drawings as being performed by one or more elements can becarried out by a processor executing computer-readable programinstructions or by a combination of hardware, firmware, and/or software.For purposes of this description, execution of CRPI contained in someCRM to perform some function can comprise executing all of the programinstructions of those CRPI or only a portion of those CRPI.

The term “data” within this description can be used interchangeably withthe term “information” or similar terms, such as “content.” The datadescribed herein can be transmitted and received. As an example, anytransmission of the data described herein can occur directly from atransmitting device (e.g., a transmitter) to a receiving device (e.g., areceiver). As another example, any transmission of the data describedherein can occur indirectly from the transmitter to a receiver via oneof one or more intermediary network devices, such as an access point, anantenna, a base station, a hub, a modem, a relay, a router, a switch, orsome other network device. The transmission of any of the data describedherein can comprise transmitting the data over an air interface (e.g.,using radio signals (i.e., wirelessly)). The transmission of any of thedata described herein can comprise transmitting the data over a wire(e.g., a single wire, a twisted pair of wires, a fiber optic cable, acoaxial cable, a wiring harness, a power line, a printed circuit, a CAT5cable, or CAT6 cable). The wire can be referred to as a “conductor” orby another term. As an example, transmission of the data over theconductor can occur electrically or optically.

The data can represent various things such as objects and conditions.The objects and conditions can be mapped to a data structure (e.g., atable). A processor can refer to the data structure to determine whatobject or condition is represented by the data. As an example, the datareceived by a processor can represent a calendar date. The processor candetermine the calendar date by comparing the data to a data structurethat defines calendar dates. As another example, data received by aprocessor can represent a vehicle identifier. The processor candetermine what type of vehicle is represented by the data by comparingthe data to a structure that defines a variety of vehicle makes andmodels.

A data element is some portion of data. The data received via a computernetwork transmission can comprise multiple data elements. A processorcan parse the received data to determine the data element or dataelements within the received data. The received data can include fieldnames and/or field lengths defining a data element and size of the dataelement. The processor can be programmed with instructions based on adefinition of a CNT that indicates, for example a field name and fieldlength of data within the CNT.

In this description, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are used tointroduce elements or functions of the example embodiments. The intentof using those articles is that there is one or more of the introducedelements or functions. The word “next” is used to transition fromparagraphs or aspects described in the description and is not intendedto indicate an order of occurrence of any functions of method.

In this description, the intent of using the term “and/or” within a listof at least two elements or functions and the intent of using the terms“at least one of,” “at least one of the following,” “one or more of,” or“one or more of the following” immediately preceding a list of at leasttwo components or functions is to cover each embodiment including alisted component or function independently and each embodimentcomprising a combination of the listed components or functions. Forexample, an embodiment described as comprising “A, B, and/or C,” or “atleast one of A, B, or C,” or “at least one of the following: A, B or C,”or “one or more of A, B, or C,” or “one or more of the following: A, B,or C” is intended to cover each of the following possible embodiments:(i) an embodiment comprising A, but not B and not C, (ii) an embodimentcomprising B, but not A and not C, (iii) an embodiment comprising C, butnot A and not B, (iv) an embodiment comprising A and B, but not C, (v)an embodiment comprising A and C, but not B, (v) an embodimentcomprising B and C, but not A, and (vi) an embodiment comprising A, B,and C. For the embodiments comprising component or function A, theembodiments can comprise one A or multiple A. For the embodimentscomprising component or function B, the embodiments can comprise one Bor multiple B. For the embodiments comprising component or function C,the embodiments can comprise one C or multiple C. The use of ordinalnumbers such as “first,” “second,” “third” and so on is to distinguishrespective elements rather than to denote a particular order of thoseelements unless the context of using those terms explicitly indicatesotherwise. The use of the symbol “$” as prefix to a number indicates thenumber is a hexadecimal number.

While various aspects and embodiments are described herein, otheraspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes ofillustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scopebeing indicated by the claims, along with the full scope of equivalentsto which such claims are entitled. It is also to be understood that theterminology used herein for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may thus relate to one of theenumerated example embodiment (EEEs) listed below.

EEE 1 is a method comprising: (i) receiving, by a computing server, afirst computer network transmission comprising data indicative of avehicle and data indicative of a vehicle condition of the vehiclereported by the vehicle, (ii) parsing, by the computing server, thefirst computer network transmission to obtain the data indicative of thevehicle and the data indicative of the vehicle condition of the vehiclereported by the vehicle, (iii) determining, by the computing serverbased on the data indicative of the vehicle, a computer network addressassociated with a repair shop having a client computing device disposedat the computer network address to display content of a schedulerapplication served by the computing server, and (iv) transmitting, bythe computing server to the client computing device disposed at thecomputer network address associated with the repair shop, a secondcomputer network transmission comprising data to cause the clientcomputing device to display as part of the content of the schedulerapplication served by computing server an alert indicator and parseddata indicative of the vehicle and the parsed data indicative of thevehicle condition of the vehicle reported by the vehicle.

EEE 2 is the method of EEE 1, wherein the first computer networktransmission comprises a communication transmitted over an internetprotocol network.

EEE 3 is the method of any one of EEE 1 or EEE 2, wherein the secondcomputer network transmission comprises a communication transmitted overthe internet protocol network.

EEE 4 is the method of any one of EEE 1-3, wherein the computer networkaddress associated with the determined shop identifier comprises aninternet protocol address.

EEE 5 is the method of any one of EEE 1-4, wherein the data indicativeof the vehicle comprises at least a portion of a vehicle identificationnumber or an account identifier associated with the vehicle or an ownerof the vehicle.

EEE 6 is the method of any one of EEE 1-5, wherein the data indicativeof the vehicle condition of the vehicle reported by the vehiclecomprises at least one of: (i) data indicative of a vehicle mileage, or(ii) data indicative of a vehicle symptom.

EEE 7 is the method of EEE 6, wherein the data indicative of the vehiclesymptom comprises at least one of (i) a diagnostic trouble code setwithin the vehicle, or (ii) a parameter and a parameter identifier.

EEE 8 is the method of any one of EEE 1-5, wherein the data indicativeof the vehicle condition of the vehicle reported by the vehiclecomprises data indicative of a vehicle mileage reported by the vehicle.

EEE 9 is the method of EEE 8, further comprising: (i) receiving, by thecomputing server, data indicating an identifier of the vehicle mileagedisplayed by the client computing device was selected, and (ii)transmitting, by the computing sever, a maintenance schedule based onthe vehicle mileage displayed by the client computing device and basedon the data indicative of the vehicle to cause the client computingdevice to display the maintenance schedule.

EEE 10 is the method of any one of EEE 1-9, wherein the first computernetwork transmission further comprises a user comment entered via anetwork communication device communicatively coupled to the transmissionserver.

EEE 11 is the method of any one of EEE 1-10, wherein the first computernetwork transmission receives the first computer network transmissionfrom a transmission server.

EEE 12 is the method of EEE 11, wherein the transmission server iscommunicatively coupled to a network communication devicecommunicatively coupled to an electronic control unit in the vehicle, ora network communication device communicatively coupled to a vehicleinterface device removably connected to an on-board diagnostic connectorin the vehicle.

EEE 13 is the method of EEE 12, wherein the network communication devicecommunicatively coupled to an electronic control unit in the vehicle orthe network communication device communicatively coupled to a vehicleinterface device comprises a cellular communication device.

EEE 14 is the method of any one of EEE 1-13, wherein the first computernetwork transmission further comprises a geolocation identifier of thevehicle, and wherein the second computer network transmission furthercomprises the geolocation identifier of the vehicle.

EEE 15 is the method of any one of EEE 1-14, further comprising:receiving, by the computing server from the client computing device, aninput to populate a schedule of the content of the scheduler applicationserved by the computing server.

EEE 16 is the method of any one of EEE 1-15, further comprising: (i)receiving, by the computing server, a third computer networktransmission comprising a request to register the vehicle, wherein therequest comprises data indicative of a vehicle owner of the vehicle anddata pertaining to the repair shop, and (ii) transmitting, by thecomputing server to the client computing device, a fourth computernetwork transmission comprising data to cause the client computingdevice to display a request identifier indicating the vehicle ownerrequested to register the vehicle with the schedule application for therepair shop.

EEE 17 is the method of EEE 16, further comprising: (i) receiving, bythe computing server from the client computing device, a selectionindicator indicating the request to register the vehicle is accepted bythe repair shop, and (ii) storing, by the computing server, data mappingthe vehicle to the repair shop.

EEE 18 is the method of EEE 16, wherein the data pertaining to therepair shop comprises data indicating a name of the repair shop.

EEE 19 is a computing system comprising: a computer-readable memory, atleast one processor coupled to the computer-readable memory, and programinstructions stored on the computer-readable memory and executable bythe at least one processor to: (i) receive a first computer networktransmission comprising data indicative of a vehicle and data indicativeof a vehicle condition of the vehicle reported by the vehicle, (ii)parse the first computer network transmission to obtain the dataindicative of the vehicle and the data indicative of the vehiclecondition of the vehicle reported by the vehicle, (iii) determine, basedon the data indicative of the vehicle, a computer network addressassociated with a repair shop having a client computing device disposedat the computer network address to display content of a schedulerapplication served by the computing server, and (iv) transmit, to theclient computing device disposed at the computer network addressassociated with the repair shop, a second computer network transmissioncomprising data to cause the client computing device to display as partof the content of the scheduler application served by computing serveran alert indicator and parsed data indicative of the vehicle and theparsed data indicative of the vehicle condition of the vehicle reportedby the vehicle.

EEE 20 is the computing system of EEE 19, wherein the first computernetwork transmission comprises a communication transmitted over aninternet protocol network.

EEE 21 is the computing system of any one of EEE 19 or EEE 20, whereinthe second computer network transmission comprises a communicationtransmitted over the internet protocol network.

EEE 22 is the computing system of any one of EEE 19-21, wherein thecomputer network address associated with the determined shop identifiercomprises an internet protocol address.

EEE 23 is the computing system of any one of EEE 19-22, wherein the dataindicative of the vehicle comprises at least a portion of a vehicleidentification number or an account identifier associated with thevehicle or an owner of the vehicle.

EEE 24 is the computing system of any one of EEE 19-23, wherein the dataindicative of the vehicle condition of the vehicle reported by thevehicle comprises at least one of: (i) data indicative of a vehiclemileage, or (ii) data indicative of a vehicle symptom.

EEE 25 is the computing system of EEE 24, wherein the data indicative ofthe vehicle symptom comprises at least one of (i) a diagnostic troublecode set within the vehicle, or (ii) a parameter and a parameteridentifier.

EEE 26 is the computing system of any one of EEE 19-23, wherein the dataindicative of the vehicle condition of the vehicle reported by thevehicle comprises data indicative of a vehicle mileage reported by thevehicle.

EEE 27 is the computing system of EEE 26, wherein the programinstructions are executable to: (i) receive data indicating anidentifier of the vehicle mileage displayed by the client computingdevice was selected, and (ii) transmit a maintenance schedule based onthe vehicle mileage displayed by the client computing device and basedon the data indicative of the vehicle to cause the client computingdevice to display the maintenance schedule.

EEE 28 is the computing system of any one of EEE 19-27, wherein thefirst computer network transmission further comprises a user commententered via a network communication device communicatively coupled tothe transmission server.

EEE 29 is the computing system of any one of EEE 19-28, wherein thefirst computer network transmission receives the first computer networktransmission from a transmission server.

EEE 30 is the computing system of EEE 29, wherein the transmissionserver is communicatively coupled to a network communication devicecommunicatively coupled to an electronic control unit in the vehicle, ora network communication device communicatively coupled to a vehicleinterface device removably connected to an on-board diagnostic connectorin the vehicle.

EEE 31 is the computing system of EEE 30, wherein the networkcommunication device communicatively coupled to an electronic controlunit in the vehicle or the network communication device communicativelycoupled to a vehicle interface device comprises a cellular communicationdevice.

EEE 32 is the computing system of any one of EEE 19-31, wherein thefirst computer network transmission further comprises a geolocationidentifier of the vehicle, and wherein the second computer networktransmission further comprises the geolocation identifier of thevehicle.

EEE 33 is the computing system of any one of EEE 19-32, wherein theprogram instructions are executable to: receive, from the clientcomputing device, an input to populate a schedule of the content of thescheduler application served by the computing server.

EEE 34 is the computing system of any one of EEE 19-33, wherein theprogram instructions are executable to: (i) receive a third computernetwork transmission comprising a request to register the vehicle,wherein the request comprises data indicative of a vehicle owner of thevehicle and data pertaining to the repair shop, and (ii) transmit, tothe client computing device, a fourth computer network transmissioncomprising data to cause the client computing device to display arequest identifier indicating the vehicle owner requested to registerthe vehicle with the schedule application for the repair shop.

EEE 35 is the computing system of EEE 34, wherein the programinstructions are executable to: (i) receive, from the client computingdevice, a selection indicator indicating the request to register thevehicle is accepted by the repair shop, and (ii) store data mapping thevehicle to the repair shop.

EEE 36 is the computing system of EEE 34, wherein the data pertaining tothe repair shop comprises data indicating a name of the repair shop.

EEE 37 is a computer readable medium configured to store at leastexecutable instructions, wherein the executable instructions, whenexecuted by a processor of a computing device, cause the computingdevice to perform functions comprising: (i) receiving a first computernetwork transmission comprising data indicative of a vehicle and dataindicative of a vehicle condition of the vehicle reported by thevehicle, (ii) parsing the first computer network transmission to obtainthe data indicative of the vehicle and the data indicative of thevehicle condition of the vehicle reported by the vehicle, (iii)determining, based on the data indicative of the vehicle, a computernetwork address associated with a repair shop having a client computingdevice disposed at the computer network address to display content of ascheduler application served by the computing server, and (iv)transmitting, to the client computing device disposed at the computernetwork address associated with the repair shop, a second computernetwork transmission comprising data to cause the client computingdevice to display as part of the content of the scheduler applicationserved by computing server an alert indicator and parsed data indicativeof the vehicle and the parsed data indicative of the vehicle conditionof the vehicle reported by the vehicle.

EEE 38 is the computer readable medium of EEE 37, wherein the firstcomputer network transmission comprises a communication transmitted overan internet protocol network.

EEE 39 is the computer readable medium of any one of EEE 37 or EEE 38,wherein the second computer network transmission comprises acommunication transmitted over the internet protocol network.

EEE 40 is the computer readable medium of any one of EEE 37-39, whereinthe computer network address associated with the determined shopidentifier comprises an internet protocol address.

EEE 41 is the computer readable medium of any one of EEE 37-40, whereinthe data indicative of the vehicle comprises at least a portion of avehicle identification number or an account identifier associated withthe vehicle or an owner of the vehicle.

EEE 42 is the computer readable medium of any one of EEE 37-41, whereinthe data indicative of the vehicle condition of the vehicle reported bythe vehicle comprises at least one of: (i) data indicative of a vehiclemileage, or (ii) data indicative of a vehicle symptom.

EEE 43 is the computer readable medium of EEE 42, wherein the dataindicative of the vehicle symptom comprises at least one of (i) adiagnostic trouble code set within the vehicle, or (ii) a parameter anda parameter identifier.

EEE 44 is the computer readable medium of any one of EEE 37-41, whereinthe data indicative of the vehicle condition of the vehicle reported bythe vehicle comprises data indicative of a vehicle mileage reported bythe vehicle.

EEE 45 is the computer readable medium of EEE 44, further comprising:(i) receiving, by the computing server, data indicating an identifier ofthe vehicle mileage displayed by the client computing device wasselected, and (ii) transmitting, by the computing sever, a maintenanceschedule based on the vehicle mileage displayed by the client computingdevice and based on the data indicative of the vehicle to cause theclient computing device to display the maintenance schedule.

EEE 46 is the computer readable medium of any one of EEE 37-45, whereinthe first computer network transmission further comprises a user commententered via a network communication device communicatively coupled tothe transmission server.

EEE 47 is the computer readable medium of any one of EEE 37-46, whereinthe first computer network transmission receives the first computernetwork transmission from a transmission server.

EEE 48 is the computer readable medium of EEE 47, wherein thetransmission server is communicatively coupled to a networkcommunication device communicatively coupled to an electronic controlunit in the vehicle, or a network communication device communicativelycoupled to a vehicle interface device removably connected to an on-boarddiagnostic connector in the vehicle.

EEE 49 is the computer readable medium of EEE 48, wherein the networkcommunication device communicatively coupled to an electronic controlunit in the vehicle or the network communication device communicativelycoupled to a vehicle interface device comprises a cellular communicationdevice.

EEE 50 is the computer readable medium of any one of EEE 37-49, whereinthe first computer network transmission further comprises a geolocationidentifier of the vehicle, and wherein the second computer networktransmission further comprises the geolocation identifier of thevehicle.

EEE 51 is the computer readable medium of any one of EEE 37-50, furthercomprising: receiving, by the computing server from the client computingdevice, an input to populate a schedule of the content of the schedulerapplication served by the computing server.

EEE 52 is the computer readable medium of any one of EEE 37-51, furthercomprising: (i) receiving, by the computing server, a third computernetwork transmission comprising a request to register the vehicle,wherein the request comprises data indicative of a vehicle owner of thevehicle and data pertaining to the repair shop, and (ii) transmitting,by the computing server to the client computing device, a fourthcomputer network transmission comprising data to cause the clientcomputing device to display a request identifier indicating the vehicleowner requested to register the vehicle with the schedule applicationfor the repair shop.

EEE 53 is the computer readable medium of EEE 52, further comprising:(i) receiving, by the computing server from the client computing device,a selection indicator indicating the request to register the vehicle isaccepted by the repair shop, and (ii) storing, by the computing server,data mapping the vehicle to the repair shop.

EEE 54 is the computer readable medium of EEE 52, wherein the datapertaining to the repair shop comprises data indicating a name of therepair shop.

We claim:
 1. A method comprising: receiving, by a computing server, afirst computer network transmission comprising data indicative of avehicle and data indicative of a vehicle condition of the vehiclereported by the vehicle; parsing, by the computing server, the firstcomputer network transmission to obtain the data indicative of thevehicle and the data indicative of the vehicle condition of the vehiclereported by the vehicle; determining, by the computing server based onthe data indicative of the vehicle, a computer network addressassociated with a repair shop having a client computing device disposedat the computer network address to display content of a schedulerapplication served by the computing server; and transmitting, by thecomputing server to the client computing device disposed at the computernetwork address associated with the repair shop, a second computernetwork transmission comprising data to cause the client computingdevice to display as part of the content of the scheduler applicationserved by computing server an alert indicator and parsed data indicativeof the vehicle and the parsed data indicative of the vehicle conditionof the vehicle reported by the vehicle.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the first computer network transmission comprises acommunication transmitted over an internet protocol network.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the second computer network transmissioncomprises a communication transmitted over the internet protocolnetwork.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer network addressassociated with the determined shop identifier comprises an internetprotocol address.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the data indicativeof the vehicle comprises at least a portion of a vehicle identificationnumber or an account identifier associated with the vehicle or an ownerof the vehicle.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the data indicative ofthe vehicle condition of the vehicle reported by the vehicle comprisesat least one of: (i) data indicative of a vehicle mileage, or (ii) dataindicative of a vehicle symptom.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein thedata indicative of the vehicle symptom comprises at least one of (i) adiagnostic trouble code set within the vehicle, or (ii) a parameter anda parameter identifier.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the dataindicative of the vehicle condition of the vehicle reported by thevehicle comprises data indicative of a vehicle mileage reported by thevehicle.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: receiving, by thecomputing server, data indicating an identifier of the vehicle mileagedisplayed by the client computing device was selected; and transmitting,by the computing sever, a maintenance schedule based on the vehiclemileage displayed by the client computing device and based on the dataindicative of the vehicle to cause the client computing device todisplay the maintenance schedule.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein thefirst computer network transmission further comprises a user commententered via a network communication device communicatively coupled tothe transmission server.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein thecomputing server receives the first computer network transmission from atransmission server.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein thetransmission server is communicatively coupled to a networkcommunication device communicatively coupled to an electronic controlunit in the vehicle, or a network communication device communicativelycoupled to a vehicle interface device removably connected to an on-boarddiagnostic connector in the vehicle.
 13. The method of claim 12, whereinthe network communication device communicatively coupled to anelectronic control unit in the vehicle or the network communicationdevice communicatively coupled to a vehicle interface device comprises acellular communication device.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein thefirst computer network transmission further comprises a geolocationidentifier of the vehicle, and wherein the second computer networktransmission further comprises the geolocation identifier of thevehicle.
 15. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, bythe computing server from the client computing device, an input topopulate a schedule of the content of the scheduler application servedby the computing server.
 16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:receiving, by the computing server, a third computer networktransmission comprising a request to register the vehicle, wherein therequest comprises data indicative of a vehicle owner of the vehicle anddata pertaining to the repair shop; and transmitting, by the computingserver to the client computing device, a fourth computer networktransmission comprising data to cause the client computing device todisplay a request identifier indicating the vehicle owner requested toregister the vehicle with the schedule application for the repair shop.17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: receiving, by thecomputing server from the client computing device, a selection indicatorindicating the request to register the vehicle is accepted by the repairshop; and storing, by the computing server, data mapping the vehicle tothe repair shop.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the data pertainingto the repair shop comprises data indicating a name of the repair shop.19. A computing system comprising: a computer-readable memory; at leastone processor coupled to the computer-readable memory; and programinstructions stored on the computer-readable memory and executable bythe at least one processor to: receive a first computer networktransmission comprising data indicative of a vehicle and data indicativeof a vehicle condition of the vehicle reported by the vehicle; parse thefirst computer network transmission to obtain the data indicative of thevehicle and the data indicative of the vehicle condition of the vehiclereported by the vehicle; determine, based on the data indicative of thevehicle, a computer network address associated with a repair shop havinga client computing device disposed at the computer network address todisplay content of a scheduler application served by the computingserver; and transmit, to the client computing device disposed at thecomputer network address associated with the repair shop, a secondcomputer network transmission comprising data to cause the clientcomputing device to display as part of the content of the schedulerapplication served by computing server an alert indicator and parseddata indicative of the vehicle and the parsed data indicative of thevehicle condition of the vehicle reported by the vehicle.
 20. A computerreadable medium configured to store at least executable instructions,wherein the executable instructions, when executed by a processor of acomputing device, cause the computing device to perform functionscomprising: receiving a first computer network transmission comprisingdata indicative of a vehicle and data indicative of a vehicle conditionof the vehicle reported by the vehicle; parsing the first computernetwork transmission to obtain the data indicative of the vehicle andthe data indicative of the vehicle condition of the vehicle reported bythe vehicle; determining, based on the data indicative of the vehicle, acomputer network address associated with a repair shop having a clientcomputing device disposed at the computer network address to displaycontent of a scheduler application served by the computing server; andtransmitting, to the client computing device disposed at the computernetwork address associated with the repair shop, a second computernetwork transmission comprising data to cause the client computingdevice to display as part of the content of the scheduler applicationserved by computing server an alert indicator and parsed data indicativeof the vehicle and the parsed data indicative of the vehicle conditionof the vehicle reported by the vehicle.